Accra, April 30, GNA - The Convention People' Party (CPP) on Monday congratulated workers on the celebration of this year's May Day and called for the protection, consolidation and expansion of the rights of workers.

"We must also increase our commitment or resolve to defend the rule of law, protect the democratic gains made and indeed strive to enhance democracy," the CPP said in a statement signed by Prof. Nii Noi Dowuona, General Secretary.

The statement noted that the best protection for the rights of workers was an open and democratic society.

"It is our conviction that a stronger, more unified and conscious labour front will contribute to a more congenial industrial atmosphere which in turn augurs well for national development." The CPP said this year's celebrations were taking place at a time of "major disturbing developments" on the labour front and in the life of the country as a whole.

The CPP said of particular concern to it was "worsening economic plight of working people with its attendant labour unrests in key sectors of the economy".

"If these issues are not resolved with dispatch, they hold the potential of developing into crisis," the CPP warned. "The threat of a strike by health workers, among others, in the wake of the just-ended strike by Bank of Ghana staff are indications of failed economic policies and programmes that have adversely affected our capacity to generate the necessary wealth to adequately remunerate workers," it said.

The CPP suggested that to resolve the immediate matters at stake and avert any future resort to strike actions, the government, through its statutory Commissions and Boards, should address the demands of the health workers and also provide better conditions of service for other workers in various formal sectors of the economy.

"The CPP believes that without adequate remuneration for the working people in all sectors of the economy, government's policies and programmes for national growth and development will not attain the desired targets," the statement said.